Deep down inside Colin Kaepernick, the alarm sounded.

Every team has factions, just like every locker room has a story. America is a place where individuality is emphasized, and every person is full of edges and corners; The edges and corners of the athletes are more distinct, and collisions in the locker room are inevitable; Over time, players with similar interests and personalities found their own partners and gradually formed factions.

There are locker rooms full of factions, rivalries and divisions, and unless you have an iron-fisted coach like Bill Belichick or a locker room leader like Payton Manning, the team is in disarray.

In some locker rooms, factions certainly exist, but they do not interfere with each other, and even occasionally intersect. In order to win, they are willing to seek common ground while reserving differences and move towards victory.

However, factions have always existed. This is true for football, and it is also true for rugby.

At this point, Colin smelled the faction. The veteran players, led by Perez, surrounded Alex; This year's rookies, as well as the newcomers who have just joined the team this season, surround Lu Ke as if they are not a faction, and they have formed a loose faction under the invisible social wall erected by other players.

Not good, it's definitely not good.

As a second-round rookie with the San Francisco 49ers this year, Collin has always been considered the future of the team. If not the future of the main quarterback this year, at least the future of next year, the year after next year, or the year after that.

In the rookie period, he shared the weal and woe with his teammates, slowly established his own faction, and after taking over the starting seat, it was equivalent to taking over the dominance of the team. It's the team's plan, and it's Colin's plan as well.

But now, Colin's future courtiers are becoming members of another rookie's faction, and they are still undrafted! Compared to Alex, Colin's appeal among senior players is still not enough; Compared with Lu Ke, Colin's performance on the court is inferior, and now even the joy and sorrow during training have been replaced.

The alarm had been sounded, and with a simple pass drill, Colin had already sniffed out the anomaly.

One game, a lot has changed; But fortunately, not much has changed, and now that it is redeemed, everything is still in time. Colin collected his mood and walked forward quickly, his chaotic steps getting faster and faster, revealing the tension and anxiety in his heart, and finally stopped beside Kip.

Colin took the initiative to greet his teammates, but he didn't know if he was thinking too much, or if everyone was focused on training, everyone just made eye contact, without any superfluous signals. Colin's mood couldn't help but become more and more flustered.

"Kip?" Colin hesitated to call, and Kip looked up, "Hey, Colin. He greeted politely, without any extra words, and then looked at the tactical board in his hand again.

Colin couldn't help but take another half step forward, "Kip, I'...... Well, I'm sure I'm okay and I'm ready to put in passing training now. You know, there's no physical confrontation, there's no physical contact, it's just passing, and I can totally join in. "Colin was proactive in applying for training. This has been rare in the past few months.

"The Alliance's license is down?" Kip looked up again and asked.

Concussion, which has become a hallmark collateral injury in rugby. Explicit or implicit, it affects the player's athletic career and retirement life everywhere.

Therefore, the league stipulates that if a player goes off the court due to a concussion, he must pass the official test of the league, otherwise he will not be allowed to participate in training and games - this is also to prevent the team from committing crimes against the wind.

Colin was speechless, looking flustered, avoiding Kip's gaze.

Kip chuckled and didn't say anything more, turning his head to continue looking at the tactical board.

Colin raised his head and looked at the hot scene on the training ground, and his mood became more and more anxious, "Kip, it's just a few pass drills, don't worry, I'm fine, I'm definitely fine." ”

"Colin, you know that's not true. Not only will you cause me to lose my job; It can also cost the team a fine. This is non-negotiable. Kip omitted even the movement of looking up, and said categorically, cutting off all possibilities.

Colin rubbed his hair in annoyance, hesitated for a moment, and said hurriedly, "...... I know. Good luck with training. Without any further pause, Colin turned and left.

Since the first option is no longer applicable, the second option can only be chosen. As planned, Colin arrived at the tactical conference room and began to prepare for the afternoon meeting. At the very least, he can be proactive and involved.

Previously, on the first day Lu Ke joined the team, the tactical meeting was a blockbuster. Although the players are complaining that Lu Ke likes to be showy, arrogant, unsightly, and disliked; But the truth is that not only Jim Hubble, but also all the players, really impressed Lu Ke.

In the first game, Lu Ke's tactical arrangement also successfully persuaded the team's offensive team members and laid an important foundation for victory.

But, von Derick tested with a perfect score, so what? Colin also scored a full 37 points, which is more than enough for a football game; What's more, when it comes to tactics, Lu Ke is just a rookie who has only played two games in his career, and he hasn't played the whole game, but Colin has been polishing on the college field for four years, and the knowledge base and application level of tactics are not at the same level at all.

Secretly clenched his fists and cheered himself on. Colin threw himself into the preparation of the tactical meeting. But, Collin forgot, today is Wednesday and there is no official team tactical meeting; It's just that the quarterbacks analyze tactics according to their own needs, watching the video of the game.

After three hours of waiting in the tactical boardroom, Colin remembered it; At this time, the team's recovery training has also come to an end for the time being. So Colin changed his strategy and sent out an invitation to all the rookie players to join them in a bar, watch a baseball game, and relax with a beer.

All the rookies, even Logan and Marcus. But, except for Lu Ke.

"Hey, hey, you rookies." Parres shouted, "Don't be too complacent, and don't be too relaxed. After cleaning up the pitch, there are locker rooms that need to be cleaned, and all helmets must be wiped down! If you're going to put it off until Saturday and then the team's equipment manager will do it for you, you're absolutely wrong. ”

Parres's subdued words sparked laughter from the other veteran players.

Cleaning up the field, packing up the gear, wiping the helmets, these preparations have always been a reserved program for the annual rookies, and even the team management has acquiesced. So, at the end of each day, the rookies have to stay and get the job done.

Pares and the rest of the group hugged Alex with giggling and laughing, and left the training ground, their cheerful voices coming from the wind, "...... How about baseball games? It's been a long time since I've been to a bar to relax and relax......" The discussion was hot, so lively, "Alex is back, we have to celebrate!" ”

Today is just the first day of Alex's return to player training, and the San Francisco 49ers seem to have begun to change.

The senior players left first, and then the year-olds who finished packing up also left en masse. The empty stadium was empty, and only Lu Ke, Logan and Marcus were left.

Scott, Kendall, and Aldon asked, "Are you sure?" ”

Lu Ke chuckled, "I'm sure." Go quickly, or you'll be left behind. The rookies have all responded to Colin's call to relax at the bar, but they are not supposed to be in the same destination as the senior players.

After receiving Lu Ke's affirmative reply, the three of them turned around and left; Seeing their backs leaving, Marcus shook his head and said with a depressed face, "I thought there was already a tacit understanding between us. ”

The factional struggle is becoming clearer, with Alex having most of the team's support, while Lu Ke and Collin will enlist the support of rookie players. They not only need to confront external enemies, but also need to withstand the test of internal contradictions.

On the contrary, Lu Ke, who was the party concerned, relaxed his mind and smiled, "You guys go back first." I still have some training that I haven't done. ”

As a player of the San Francisco 49ers, Lu Ke has only been six weeks, of which he has been running in with the team as a starter for less than two weeks; Comparatively speaking, Colin has a full four and a half months of foreshadowing and accumulation, people are emotional creatures, and the victory or defeat of a game is not enough to completely change the balance of the scales.

So, instead of focusing on the momentary gains and losses in front of you; It's better to concentrate on improving your strength. In competitive sports, absolute strength is always the best right to speak.

So, Marcus and Logan also left. Soon, Lu Ke was the only one left in the stadium training base, and he still had strength training to complete.

"Lu Ke, huh, it's good to catch up." Outside the training venue, a clear voice was echoing, Lu Ke looked back, and then saw a mint blue floral dress, dancing in the wanton sea breeze of San Francisco, the flying skirt showed white and slender calves, and the pair of red slender high heels on the feet, standing on the verdant court, looked out of place, but it was thrillingly beautiful.

The visitor seemed to realize his recklessness, walked into the field, and then took a few steps back, standing in the concrete field outside the lawn, his smile was slightly shy, but still heartily bloomed, "Everyone has left, they ...... Uh, said to go to the bar and watch a baseball game, aren't you going to go together? It's not a wise choice to break away from amateur group activities. ”

"There's still training to be done." Lu Ke raised the rugby ball in his hand, gently checked it, and replied with a smile.